mary mcdonnell

TNT’s “Major Crimes” is about to air its milestone 100th episode. The series has been a rating juggernaut since the beginning, despite some initial trepidation. After all, it derived from the popular “The Closer” with nearly the same cast, minus popular star Kyra Sedgwick. In her place: two time Academy Award nominee Mary McDonnell.

Fans embraced the new series and its star, proving their loyal support week after week as “Major Crimes” garnered ratings previously reserved for network television. Alongside the show’s procedural element, deeper stories emerged as characters’ backstory–and relationships–developed. In fact, the relationship between McDonnell’s Sharon Raydor and Tony Denison’s Andy Flynn recently culminated in a long-anticipated wedding.

Part of the appeal of “Major Crimes” may be that fans see themselves on screen. The show reflects real life in diversity of gender, ethnicity and maturity.

I sat down with eleven of the series’ stars to discuss the 100th episode, their roles on the show and some behind-the-scenes trivia:

Part One (in order of groupings): Kearran Giovanni and Daniel di Tomasso, GW Bailey and Jessica Meraz, and Tony Denison and Leonard Roberts —

Part Two (in order of groupings): Phillip Keene and Raymond Cruz, Michael Paul Chan and Jonathan Del Arco and Mary McDonnell —

The 100th episode of “Major Crimes” will air on Tuesday, December 19th.

–>Keep in touch with the author on Twitter and Instagram @realZoeHewitt. Looking for the direct links? Click here for Part One, and here for Part Two.

Phillip P Keene and Kearran Giovanni star on TNT’s top-rated drama, “Major Crimes”. Their characters, Buzz and Amy, may be friends on screen, but once the cameras stop rolling the pair become more like family. It was clear just how much they care for each other when I joined them recently at Phillip’s home to discuss the show as well as his former career as a Pan Am flight attendant.

‘Bad Blood’, last night’s episode of “Major Crimes”, hit home for Phillip. One of his relatives served as the inspiration for the show’s victim, though he didn’t realize it immediately. The close-knit cast did and were there to support him as he worked through his “funk”.

The conversation didn’t stop there. The friends shared personal stories about when it’s like when their personal and professional lives intersect. In fact, Phillip is married to “Major Crimes” creator and executive producer James Duff. Kearran planned their wedding as well as a more recent 50th birthday party for Phillip.

The theme? Phillip’s passion: Pan Am. Phillip talks with nostalgia about the years he spent as a Pan Am flight attendant. He owns one of the largest collections of Pan Am memorabilia in the world and looks forward to cataloguing and displaying these pieces of history for the public.

For exclusive party photos, a close look at Phillip’s Pan Am collection and more, take a look below:

Tony Denison, star of TNT’s top-rated drama Major Crimes, is used to a certain fervor surrounding the show. Fans are passionate about the relationship between his character, Andy Flynn, and Mary McDonnell’s Sharon Raydor. Millions refer to the pair as ‘Shandy’. Last night’s episode brought their relationship to a new level when Andy proposed.

However, viewers will have to wait for Sharon’s response. The episode ended as a cliffhanger.

Only two episodes remain in the fifth season. TNT has already renewed the series for a sixth season.

Recently, Denison was cast in a virtual-reality film called Agent Emerson. He will play The General. Agent Emerson also stars Lyndsy Fonseca. It is directed by Ilya Rozhkov.

For more about Major Crimes and Agent Emerson directly from Tony Denisontake a look below: